Four Mexican teams move on to the quarterfinals

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, October 15, 2010 – Mexicans Xitlali Herrera and Martha Revuelta in the women’s division and brothers Ulises and Lombardo Ontiveros in the men’s side won two matches during opening day at NORCECA Circuit´s Bicentennial Beach Volleyball Cup moving into the quarterfinals round.

The duo Herrera/Revuelta first defeated Katherine Zakrzewski/Julie Rodrigue of Canada-2 (21-16, 21-18) and then upset Cubans Nirian Sinal/Kirenia Ballard 2-0 (21-18, 21-16).

The Ontiveros’ team first won 21-14, 21-11 over John Wankner/Kevin Lynch of USA-2 and then beat Puerto Ricans Roberto Rodriguez/Orlando Irizarry 2-0 (21-19, 21-16).

In one of the most exciting matches, the Puerto Rican duo of Yarleen Santiago and Dariam Acevedo had to put up a fight to beat in three sets (21-18, 16-21, 15-11) the team Mexico 2 comprised of sisters Diana and Paola Estrada.

But it was Puerto Rico’s experience, who just won the silver in the Central American Games that helped them secure a ticket to the quarterfinals.

At the end of the first day of competition four Mexican teams stood out for their respective victories and are among the favorite teams to walk away with high points and some of the awards for this competition. This event is a rehearsal for the 2011 Pan American Games for which beach volleyball will be played in Puerto Vallarta.

In the men’s division, Mexicans Aldo Miramontes and Juan Virgen defeated compatriots Arturo Flores and Marcos Macias (MEX-3) 2-0 (21-19, 21-16). In the next phase, they will go against Steve Marshall and Benjamin Saxton of Canada who scored a surprising 2-1 (21-15, 25-27, 15-13) victory over Cubans Yoendri Kinderlan and Sergio Gonzalez.

At Holi Beach in this port city, 20 teams got in the action with ten men’s and ten women’s duos.  Mexico 1 and Canada stand out in the men’s division while Mexico 1, Puerto Rico and the United States have shown the best game so far in the women’s category.

The competition began with a 21-10, 21-14 victory of Mexico 4 over Mexico 3 in the men’s event. The second match saw a confrontation between the United States and Mexico 2, represented by brothers Ulises and Lombardo Ontiveros who managed to surprise their American counterparts with a winning score of 21-15 and 21-11 in just 42 minutes.

The initial match was attended by Mexican Volleyball Federation President Ismael Acosta Garcia as well as the NORCECA Control Committee.  The seating areas have been designed to accommodate the general public as well as areas for athletes, VIPs, the media and special guests.

The event gets the support of several areas of the Organizing Committee for the 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games including volunteering, results management, media services, public relations, protocol and awards as well as sports operations. 

“I’m pleased to be here representing the Mexican Federation for this Vallarta stop, which is now a traditional host for beach volleyball and is now a subsite for the Pan American Games,” commented Mayra Huerta, President of the Beach Volleyball Commission for the Mexican Volleyball Federation.

This stage of the Beach Volleyball Circuit is one of the events “On the Road” to Guadalajara 2011 and for which Puerto Vallarta is one of the five sub sites for the so called “America’s Fiesta”.

On Saturday, the competition kicks off at 9:00AM where semifinalists will be defined in both genders.

Women’s results on Friday: MEX-2 d. MEX-3 (21-15, 21-15), MEX-1 d. CAN-2 (21-16, 21-18), CAN-1 d. CRC (22-20, 21-8), MEX-1 d. CUB (21-18, 21-16), USA d. GUA (21-13, 21-9), PUR d. MEX-2 (21-18, 16-21, 15-11).

Men’s results on Friday: MEX-3 d. MEX-4 (21-10, 21-14), MEX-2 d. USA-2 (21-14, 21-11), CAN d. CUB (21-15, 25-27, 15-13), USA d. GUA (21-18, 21-16), MEX-2 d. PUR (21-18, 25-23), MEX-1 d. MEX-3 (21-19, 21-16).